East Hants Encouraging Water Conservation this Summer

The Municipality of East Hants is reminding residents of the importance of water conservation ahead of an expected dry summer in 2021. Read on for some quick facts about water conservation, stewardship, our Engineered Spring in Enfield, and the East Hants Regional Water System!

  • The East Hants Regional Water System (which relies on the Grand Lake watershed) serves over 7,400 residents in the communities of Enfield, Elmsdale and Lantz. It also serves residents and businesses from the wider area through the bulk water station. The Grand Lake watershed is one of the largest of its kind in our province.
  • Did you know? Municipal staff carefully monitor variables that affect the water system and the Grand Lake watershed. So far, 2021 has been a dry year. Factors like low levels of snow pack and snow melt point toward another dry summer – this is something residents can also keep an eye on with information from the federal government.
  • What is the Engineered Spring? When the Shubenacadie river reaches very low levels near the entrance to Grand Lake, the Municipality operates an Engineered Spring to pump water from the lake into the river to help improve its flow. The Engineered Spring is approved by Nova Scotia Environment and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans with the purpose of maintaining and ensuring healthy water levels while supporting or improving fish habitat in the river. The Engineered Spring operates well below its mandated levels and is only used when water levels are very low. The East Hants Source Water Protection Advisory Committee provides oversight for the Engineered Spring.
  • Did you know? Water withdrawn from Grand Lake for the East Hants Regional Water System is not the main factor in low lake levels. A two-inch drop in the water level of Grand Lake is equivalent to removing 800,000,000 litres of water every day. In the entire month of June 2020 (the highest amount ever withdrawn in a single month), the amount of water withdrawn was still only 101,000,000 litres per day.

The Municipality of East Hants is one of many stewards of the Grand Lake watershed. Alongside other businesses and residents in our region, we take the protection of this resource seriously. East Hants residents can also be good stewards by learning about how to conserve water at home and sorting waste properly, which avoids water contamination to keep our environment clean.

To learn more about the water system in East Hants, click here.

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